Display box



y 1950 a. A. MOORE 2,515,887

DISPLAY BOX Filed se t. 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l N V E N TO R 650m 4m M/G'I'ON MOORE ATTO R 2 EY u y 8, 1950 G. A. MOORE 2,515,887

DISPLAY BOX Filed p 5- 5 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Gin/m5 Aka/vs raw M0025 Patented juiy 18, 1956 DISPLAY BOX George Arlington Moore, New York, N. Y., as-

signor to National Biscuit Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 5, 1945, Serial No. 614,478 3 Claims. (01. zoo-45.26)

My invention relates to display boxes that serve as shipping containers for small articles or packets of merchandise and, when received by the merchant, are used for displaying and dispensing the merchandise on counters, show-cases and other places that afford an advantageous display.

Among the objects of my invention are to provide a display box that is strong and durable, cheap to manufacture, easily formed from a single piece blank, and that displays the merchandise at the most effective angle or position.

Another object is to provide a display box that gives easy access to the merchandise, is stable at all stages of fullness and affords a good display of the articles until the last one is removed.

Another object is to provide a display and shipping box that can be easily and quickly set up from a single piece blank and which has an open end and front enabling the packer to fill it read- 113'.

Still another object is to provide a display and shipping box that can be set up from a single piece blank and has locking means that can be engaged or actuated by a single operation to form a strong and rigid structure.

Yet another object is to provide a display box wherein the load or contents will not throw a strain on the locks that secure the blank in box forming position.

The above and other objects and advantages are obtained by my invention, one form of which I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, to which reference is now made.

Fig. 1 shows a single piece blank that may be folded and parts interlocked to form a carton or box that is effective and efficient both as a shipping container and as a display box.

Fig. 2 shows the completed box as it is filled and closed for shipment.

Fig. 3 shows the filled carton as it will be placed by the merchant in display position on the counter or other support.

Fig. 4 shows an empty box in display position.

Fig. 5 shows the back or bottom of the box and illustrates how the side flanges interlock with the bottom panel.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing how the easel for supporting the box is formed from the back panel.

Fig. 7 is a section through the closed box of Fig. 2, the contents having been removed.

Figs. 8, 9, 10 are sectional views showing three successive stages in formation of the easel.

Fig. 11 is a section taken substantially on line of Fig. 10, with the front closing flap broken away in part.

Fig. 12 is a section taken on the broken line |2-|2 of Fig. 11.

The blank of Fig. 1 is made from a single piece of cardboard or other suitable material that is cut and scored to form a front panel 20, a bottom end panel 2|, a back panel 22, a top end panel 23, and a front closing flap 24, which are joined along transverse score lines 26', 2|, 22', 23' on which the blank is folded to form the box. The front panel 20 is cut out for the greater part of its area to form a U-shaped frame through which the merchandise is displayed. Outer side panels 25, 26 are joined to the front panel along score lines 21, 28 and side flanges 29, 36, each having two looking tongues 3|, 32, join the side panels along score lines 33, 34. End flaps 35, 36 are joined to the ends of panel 2| along scores 31, 38. Inner side panels 39, 40 are joined to the back panel 22 along score lines 4|, 42. At each end of the end panel 23, there is a triangular top end flap or wing 43, 44 joined thereto along a score line.

The closing flap 24 has a transverse score 66 dividing it into a label or name section 41 and a tuck 48. The length of the flap 24 is substantially equal to the front panel 20 and at its free end may be cut to form a tongue 48'.

The back panel 22 has two cuts or slits 49, 56 on each side through which the tongues 3|, 32

are inserted to lock the blank in box forming relation.

The back panel 22 is cut and scored to provide an easel for supporting the box in display position. Reference is made to Figs. 5 and 6 which show this on a larger scale than Fig. 1. A score line 5| extends across the open end of a U-shaped cut or tear line 52 that defines a leg or post 53 of the easel. Score lines 54, 55 permit the leg to be folded to form wings or flanges 56, 51 that stiffen and strengthen it. Diagonal cuts 56, 51 connect the ends of score line 5| with the ends of the tear line 52 and cut off the upper corners of the flanges 56, 51, which otherwise would extend inward from the back panel 22 when the box is in display position. A brace member 58 is formed in the leg by a U-shaped cut or tear line 59 which adjoins a score line 66. A tongue 6| on the brace is adapted to be inserted in a slit 62.

The box may be formed from the blank of Fig. 1 by first folding it on the score lines 2|, 26'. This brings the back 22 up so that it overlies the front 20. Next the end flaps 35, 36 are turned in along score lines 31, 38. Then the inner side panels 39, 40 are folded down and the outer side panels 25, 26 folded up to overlie the inner panels. The flanges 29, 30 which now are extending straight up are then bent down along score lines 33, 34, one with each hand of the operator, and the tongues 3|, 32 inserted simultaneously, and with a single operation into the slits 49, 50. This locks the parts in box forming position with the parts 23, 24 lying in the plane of the back panel 22 so that the top is open. The box may then be filled with merchandise and closed ready for sale or shipment. To close the box, the wings 43, M are first bent inward so that their rounded corners may be inserted between the respective inner and outer side panels 25, 39 and 26, 40. The outer side panels may have cut-outs 25, 25' in their upper edges, Fig. 2, to facilitate entry of the wings. The front closure member or flap is then folded along score lines 46, 23' so that its free end can be inserted inside the top edges 63, 64 of the front panel and pushed down to completely close the opening. The tongue 53' may be inserted inside the lower lip 65 of the front panel, but I prefer to bend it outward so that it engages over the lip 65 so as to stiffen the lower edge of the cover, as shown in Fig. 2. The box, filled and closed, is shown in Fig. 2.

The label or name panel il may have the name of the articles, the selling price, the manufacturer's name or other data or a decorative design printed thereon that is visible to the customer when the box is in display position.

My display box as I have illustrated it, is designed particularly for packaging and displaying packets of merchandise that are relatively long and thin, such as candy bars, thin packages of wafers, cookie sandwiches and the like, but is not limited thereto. In Fig. 3, I show the box filled with cracker sandwich or cookie packets 66 made in accordance with my co-pending application Ser. No. 614,479 filed September 5, 1945.

When the merchant wishes to place the box on the counter, he first breaks loose the tongue or brace 58 and pulls it out as shown in Fig. 8. A stronger pull on this tongue breaks the leg 53 loose on three sides and it swings out as shown in Fig. 9. The wings 56, 51 are then folded perpendicular to the leg so as to strengthen and stiffen it. The tongue 6| on the brace 53 is then inserted in the slit, as shown in Figs. 6 and 10. The merchant next raises the front closure 24 so as to open the front of the box. It is then folded on the score line at and the tuck 48 inserted between the back panel 22 and the articles in the box. This tuck closes most of the opening in the box that was made when the leg was broken loose. This leaves the name panel 41 standing nearly vertical, but tilted slightly toward the rear, as shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10. The box is now ready to be set up on display, as shown in Fig. 3.

When a filled box is displayed, as in Figs. 3 and 10, the center of gravity falls between the lower corner 51 and the leg 53 so that the box is stable and does not tend to tilt forward. As the contents of the box are removed, the center of gravity progresses toward the leg so that stability is not lost. The parts are selected and proportioned so that when the box is full, as in Fig. 3, nearly all of the weight, preferably about three-fourths, will be supported by the corner Bl. This corner is stiffened and strengthened by three ply thickness of the members 26, 33 and on one side and of the members 25, 35 and 39 on the other so that it is well adapted to support a heavy load.

When the box is filled ready for shipment, as in Fig. 2, it is strong and durable. The lower ness as described above and the top corners-are likewise strengthened by members 25, 39 and 43 on one side and by members 26, 40 and 44 on the other.

The flanges 56, 51 that reinforce the easel leg are shown of uniform width but may be tapered their entire length by making the scores 54,55 diverge to meet the upper ends of the tear line 52 and extending the score line 5| to meet them.

The box generally will be made in blank form by the carton manufacturer and sold to the manufacturer who will set it up. In setting up the box, only the tongues 3|, 32 have to be inserted in their respective slits 49, 5|! to secure all parts together ready for filling. This may be accomplished readily and cheaply by hand and without use of expensive machinery. Other types of looks or adhesives or staples may be used instead of the tongues and slits without departing from my invention.

I have shown the front panel 20 cut-away so that it is only a U-shaped frame, but the invenends, because they over-lie three thicknesses of material. This is shown to an exaggerated degree in this figure. The free edges of locking flanges 29, '30, the tongues 3|, 32, and the slits .9, 58, are inclined with respect to the sides of the box. This is for convenience in setting up, it having been found that an operator can engage and close all the looks with a single motion when they are thus inclined. However, they may be parallel to the sides of the box.

I have shown two tongues 3|, 32, on each side. Usually this number is sufiicient unless the height of the box exceeds 8 to 10 inches, because there is little or no strain on these tongues. The over-lapping flaps and panels at the top and bottom corners make the box strong and rigid and take'up the strain when the box is on display.

The invention is capable of many modifications and I claim'allsuch that come within the scope of my claims.

What I claim is:

1. A blank for forming a display box having formed in succession thereon from-end to end, a front-panel, a bottom end panel, aback panel, a top end panel anda-front-closing flap, said front panel being cut away for the greater part of its area to provide a display-opening and having an therein adapted to receive said locking tongues when the blank is folded to form a box, the looking tongues and slits being angularly disposed with respect to the score lines defining the rear edges of the outer side panels and the side edges of the back panel, respectively.

2. A combined shipping and display box comprising a front panel that is cut away to form a frame, a back panel, a lowerend. panel connecting the front and back panels, overlapping inner and outer side panels connected to the front and back panels, a top end panel having one edge hinged to the top of the back panel, a front closing flap hinged to the opposite edge of the top end panel, said closing flap lying inside of and closing the frame of the front panel, said top end panel having a wing at each end that lies between the adjacent double side panels, said back panel having a potential easel formed therein by cut and score lines, and said closing flap having a transverse score line defining thereon a name panel and a tuck, said name panel being of substantially the same width as said top end panel, and said tuck being adapted, when the box is in display position, to be inserted inside of the rear panel and to cover in part the area of the potential easel.

3. A combined shipping and display box comprising a front panel that is cut away to form a frame, a back panel, a lower end panel connecting the front and back panels, overlapping inner and outer side panels connected to the front and back panels, a top end panel having one edge hinged to the top of the back panel, a front closing flap hinged to the opposite edge of the top end panel, said closing flap lying inside of and closing the frame of the front panel, said top end panel having a wing at each end that lies between the adjacentdouble side panels, said c1os ing flap having a transverse score line defining thereon a name panel and a tuck, said name panel being of substantially the same width as said top end panel, and an easel cut from said back panel for supporting the box in inclined display position, and said tuck being adapted, when the box is in display position, to be inserted inside of the rear panel and to cover in part the opening formed in the back panel by cutting out the easel.

GEORGE ARLINGTON MOORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 153,281 Ritter July 21, 1874 398,971 Meyer Mar. 5, 1889 677,108 Weis June 25, 1901 930,338 Benjamin Aug. 10, 1909 1,733,803 Hornecker Oct. 29, 1929 2,132,526 Buser Oct. 11, 1938 2,175,513 Bauman Oct. 10, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 353,059 Great Britain July 16, 1931 476,873 Great Britain Dec. 13, 1937 

